Painting inside during winter

Winter may not be the first season that comes to mind when wanting to paint the interior of your home, however there are numerous benefits to painting your home at this time of year. So maybe now is the time to add a dash of paint and transform a rooms overall look and feel.

Benefits of painting in winter

Less humidity

Summer humidity does not allow paint to dry quickly. With less moisture in the air during winter you achieve better paint application and faster drying times. This also helps in getting on with the job as a second coat can be added in a much faster time frame.

Greater professional availability

Painters or home maintenance contractors are generally less busy during winter seasons which means they can complete the project faster without having other contract interruptions.

Things to consider first

The appropriate paint and colour for the room you are painting is the first requirement and then choosing which paint you want to use. There are a variety of different paints for different applications on the market today, including paints specifically for interior walls and paints that do not release unpleasant fumes or odours.

Water based paints are best for interior painting as they are quick drying and easy to use. They also have low odours and are environmentally-friendly. Water based paint can be applied directly onto walls, but all walls should be cleaned first according to the paint manufacturers recommendations.

Latex paint is also easy to work with and dries fast. It can be used for painting walls and ceilings.

Prepare the room for painting

Ensure that the furniture is covered with a protective covering and/or transferred to storage. Ensure your floors are well covered and protected – roof sheeting, available at local hardware stores, is great to cover and protect floors from potential paint spills. Before painting, open all the doors and windows in your work area to get rid of any potential paint fumes and odours.

Get the walls ready

Scrape any cracked or flaking paint with a paint scraper. Seal any cracks and holes with filler. When dry, sandpaper any roughness or imperfections on the filled areas and other parts of the wall.

Before painting your walls, it is imperative to dust and clean them first. For most surfaces, use a towel or a vacuum cleaner. If very dirty, there are a variety of products on the market, we believe in good old sugar soap, but check the your paint manufacturer’s instructions first.

A high-quality primer will help hide marks on walls. Choose an oil-based primer for walls that have heavy stains.

A damp-sealer will protect walls from rising damp and moisture as it will seal plaster while holding back the penetrating water. You can paint after 24 hours once the damp-sealer has dried.

Start painting

Follow your paint manufacturer’s painting techniques and before you know it you will be enjoying the end result of your new look interior or room.